Grower Jonathan Champion from Callington had enough cannabis for more than 3,000 cigarettes  

A MAN from the Callington area, who had grown enough cannabis in his home for more than 3,000 cigarettes, has escaped being sent to jail.

Jonathan Champion, 42, told Truro Crown Court that the Class B drug, which he was found to be growing in a container outside his home at Golberdon, was solely for his own use and he ate it rather than smoked it, to help with pain from an assault.

Sally Daulton, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said police executed a drugs warrant at Champion's home on February 27 and found the plants in three separate locations around the property including 18 mature plants in a shipping container in the yard.

Ms Daulton said officers also found 31 seedlings behind a false wall in an upstairs bathroom and a "large quantity" of harvested cannabis being dried in a bedroom.

On September 12, the court heard the drugs found at the property were estimated to be potentially worth from £12,600 to £37,800 if sold in street deals.

Ms Daulton said: "The Crown's position is that Mr Champion was producing more than for his own use.

"The defendant's position is that he was not dealing it or selling it."

She added that Champion had two previous convictions for being in possession of cannabis and one in 2012 for growing the plant.

Chris Nicholls, for the defence, said Champion had been involved in a motorbike accident at the age of 17, which left him badly injured and that he used cannabis to help with the pain.

He said in 2010, Champion had almost stopped using cannabis when he was the victim of an attack with a baseball bat and a shovel.

"The defendant eats [the cannabis], he doesn't roll it or smoke it," said Mr Nicholls. "[He has it on] soup or toast or just eats it straight out of the container.

"It may explain the potentially large amount there."

Champion was sentenced to 16 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered to pay £500 towards the costs of the prosecution and a £100 victim surcharge.

http://www.cornishguardian.co.uk/Grower-Jonathan-Champion-Callington-cannabis-3/story-22945826-detail/story.html 22/09/2014